Improved composition for hardening steel



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES '1. J. HAYDEN, OF VERSAILLES, MISSOURI.

IMPROVED COMPOSITION FOR HARDENING STEEL.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 70,210, dated October29, 1867.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES T. J. HAYDEN, of Versailles, in the countyof Morgan, in the State of Missouri, have invented or discovered a newand Improved mode of Hardening Steel, so that the same can he used as asubstitute for diamonds in cutting glass, and of cut-ting railroad-ironand tools of steel used either as lnill-picks or in cutting stone. Ihereby declare that the following is a full, true, and exact descriptionthereof.

Take and mix up well the following chemicals, always using the sameproportions of each in making up quantities either large or small: oneounce of alcohol, ninetyfive per cent; half an ounce of nitric acid,chemically pure; fifty grains of iodine; five grains bichromate ofpotash; five grains salt. Gompound, and mix up welliu one bottle.

And to enable others skilled in the art to make and use my inventionsuccessfully, I give the following instructions or directions: Take thepiece of steel desired to be hardened. First dip the steel into themixture prepared as above as far in as it is to be hardened. Take it outimmediately and hold it over a blaze of fire until it begins to get hotor turn blue. Then take it from the fire, dip it into cold Water untilit cools perfectly. Apply the steel in this manner three times, With thedifference that the steel isto be held in the blaze of fire the last orthird time until it heats to a cherry red, or a little above. Each timeafter the steel is cooled wipe it clean with a piece of cloth. Whensteel is hardened it can be used in cutting glass, steel, or other hardsubstances.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The application of the aforesaid chemical compound or mixture to steel,for the purpose of hardening it, or any other substantially the samewhich will produce the same effect.

CHARLES T. J. HAYDEN.

Witnesses:

JOHN T. CAMPBELL, P. B. BURNS.

